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Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Archive Related to Death and Memorial As We Remember Joe. ...
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$625.00
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Description
Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Archive Related to Death and Memorial As We Remember Joe. An archive of four typed letters with original transmittal covers dated March 20 to September 12, 1944; two handwritten letters dated September 10, 1944 and December 3, 1945; three undated newspaper clippings, and one invitation to the launching of the USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr with accompanying original transmittal cover, dated July 12, 1945. Documents measure 8" x 11", on average.The oldest of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy's nine children, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. was the only member of the family not to seek political office before his death. Following his graduation from the Choate School in 1993, Joe attended Harvard, the London School of Economics, and Harvard Law School. Both he and his father intended for the eldest son to become the President of the United States, a dream cut short by his untimely death. Upon the outbreak of World War II, Kennedy enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on June 24, 1941. He was trained as an aviator and completed twenty-five successful combat operations before setting off on his fateful last mission. On August 12, 1944, Kennedy and his co-pilot took off with an explosive package. While flying over southeastern England, the bomb detonated early and killed both airmen instantaneously. Kennedy was posthumously given the Navy Cross for his bravery.
The items featured here center around correspondence between various members and staff of the Kennedy family and Richard R. Flood, a close friend and college roommate of Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. After Kennedy's passing, Flood contributed to the memorial volume, As We Remember Joe. The opening letter, written before Joe's death updates Flood on the address of two of the Kennedy brothers. On March 20, 1944, Doris R. Walker, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.'s secretary, wrote, "I have just learned Jack's new address, which is the reason I delayed writing to you... The letter to Joe which you sent here was re-addressed and sent along to him." John F. Kennedy had recently been transferred to the Submarine Chaser Training Center in Miami, Florida to recuperate from injuries he sustained during the attack on his submarine, PT-109, in the Solomon Islands. Kennedy was credited with saving much of his crew and his actions during the disaster launched the second-eldest Kennedy onto the national stage as a war hero.
Five months after Walker's letter, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. wrote to Flood to express his gratitude for Flood's contribution to his son's book. He wrote, "Thank you for writing your thoughts of Joe. In the sorrow of the event it is comforting to realize how much Joe was beloved and admired by those who, like yourself, knew him best. Our pride, thus heightened, cannot quite fill the void in our lives but your tribute to his memory is a real consolation."
The next summer, the Kennedy family sent Flood an invitation to attend the launching of the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. The event took place on July 26, 1945 and the enclosed invitation reads, in part, "as the launching date of a combatant ship is confidential information, please do not discuss the launching date on this invitation with anyone until it has been made public by the navy department." At the time, Flood was serving in the Pacific and was unable to attend the event sponsored by Joe's sister, Jean.
Although Flood could not attend the launching, he did honor Joe's memory by contributing an essay to the book, As We Remember Joe. Organized and edited by John F. Kennedy, the volume was privately printed for Kennedy close friends and family. On December 3, 1945, George A. Schmiedigen, a Harvard classmate of Joe's, wrote to Flood congratulating him on the book. He wrote, in part, "The other day Eunice Kennedy gave me a book about Joe. I noticed that you wrote an article. It was very nice of you to do that. I understand that Jack is going now in politics. I am sure he will do well."
This archive also features three letters between Flood, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, and her secretary, Marilyn McElwee regarding the address of Dick O'Toole, another one of Joe's Harvard classmates. Rose had received a letter of sympathy from Dick's sister following Joe's death. In a letter dated August 29, 1944, McElwee wrote, "Mrs. Kennedy is wondering if perhaps you might happen to know who they are and what their address might be." It also includes three newspaper clippings regarding the publication of As We Remember Joe and recently released details surrounding Joe's final mission.
Condition: Creased along folds. Letter dated September 10, 1944 is toned throughout, especially along the margins. Newspaper clippings have irregular margins. Envelopes are torn at the opening.
Auction Info
2023 November 13 - 14 Americana & Political Signature Auction Signature® Auction #6276 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
November, 2023
13th-14th
Monday-Tuesday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
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